Suchergebnisse

Introducing multiple layers of "independent" structures has become a go‐to strategy for public agent oversight. The question remains whether such decentralized, overlapping structural arrangements of oversight reduce regulatory uncertainty and produce better policy outcomes. Using the case study of Ontario, Canada, I examine the consequences of institutional layering for the specific and broader goal of independent oversight and democratic policing, respectively. Semi‐structured interviews with oversight officials and other key stakeholders as well as past governmental reports that led to the police oversight reform are analyzed to study the gap between the policy intention and outcome. I found that multiple "independent" investigatory agencies are meant to operate concurrently within an integrated system to ensure a responsive and comprehensive oversight system. However, their structural separation obstructs collaboration among the external agencies, causing various dysfunctional bureaucratic behaviors that undermine the overarching intention. The disconnect among different oversight authorities exacerbates their reliance on internal police‐led procedures for all police misconduct inquiries. Implications of my research extend beyond policing and further the study of overlapping regulatory oversight and structural reform through institutional layering.

We examine public perceptions of the police complaints system in Ontario, Canada, using results from a general population survey of Toronto residents. Most of our respondents have indicated that they would file a formal complaint if subject to police verbal abuse or brutality. Yet, a large proportion of these same respondents did not believe their complaint would be treated fairly. Consistent with the broader literature, these perceptions of unfair treatment are particularly widespread among Black respondents and those with low levels of confidence in local police. Despite decades of structural reforms, only few respondents indicated that they would report their complaint to a civilian police oversight agency explicitly tasked with reviewing police complaints. Regardless of racial background, most respondents nonetheless believe that police complaints should be investigated by independent (nonpolice) investigators. We conclude with a discussion of the recent legislative reform efforts that have taken place in the province.

The ongoing concerns and regulations on long-chain fluorinated compounds (C8 or higher) for nonwetting coatings have driven the market to search for sustainable alternative chemistries. In this study, a copolymeric coating containing short-chain fluorinated groups was synthesized to achieve excellent nonwetting ability against hazardous chemical warfare agents (CWAs). A copolymer of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl methacrylate (PFOMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA, crosslinker) was directly coated onto a textile fabric via initiated chemical vapor deposition. The p(PFOMA-co-EGDMA) coating shows a rough-textured morphology with a bumpy, raspberry-like structure leading to high contact angles (θ(water) > 150° and θ(dodecane) = 113.8°) and a small water shedding angle (<5°). Moreover, the p(PFOMA-co-EGDMA) coating was further analysed for application in military fabrics: air permeability, tensile strength, and safety against toxic perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). Outstanding nonwetting was noticeably achieved against different CWAs, including bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide (HD), pinacolyl methylfluorophosphonate (GD), and O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl)methylphosphonothioate (VX) (θ(HD) = 119.1°, θ(GD) = 117.0°, and θ(VX) = 104.1°). The coating retained its nano-structuration and nonwetting ability for water and n-dodecane despite being subjected to 250 cycles of Martindale abrasion and harsh chemicals (NaOH and HCl). The robustness and scalable straightforward preparation route of the coating make it an ideal approach for designing durable next-generation CWA nonwetting coatings for fabrics with favorable health and environmental properties.